Matthew didn't listen and kept running until he was standing in front of the table. With this, Ivan will be able to recover in a few weeks. Matthew smiled brightly when he picked up the small glass bottle. He uncorked it and gave a sniff to make sure it was the real one and not just fake.
"Matvey!" Ivan whisper shouted again urgently. They did not have time for this! "Hurry up!"
Yes! Matthew pocketed the vial and started running back while Ivan just watched anxiously, panting softly. Matthew running off like that hadn't helped calm his heart any, if anything, it had only made it beat faster.
"Sorry, I had to grab it." The guardian said softly as he approached, still smiling brightly. Kuma shook his head at him and then turned, continuing onwards with haste.
Ivan gave him an exasperated look and shook his head as well before they continued on. He did his best to keep his breathing under control; he did not want Matthew to feel that they needed to stop just for him. Ivan hated having to think about breathing properly. Something so natural shouldn't have to be thought about in stressful times. But they did not have time to stop; he could rest later after they had escaped.
Matthew looked up at him with a frown shortly after. Ivan was breathing too heavily. Maybe they should stop? We're almost to the front gates of the castle, once were outside it will be safe to let him rest.
When the front doors came into view, Matthew ran ahead to look for guards. There, he knew there would be at least five. Ivan got a bit more anxious when Matthew ran ahead, not liking for him to stray too far ahead of the group. He preferred that they stay together right now.
But to Matthew's surprise, there didn't seem to be a guard in sight. Come to think of it... There seemed to be less and less guards the closer they got to the main doors. I don't like this at all...
The lack of guards just made Ivan even more anxious. Weighing his options for a few moments, he whispers for the group to stop for a moment once they were nearly at the doors. "Matvey." He pants softly, beckoning the boy over. "While I do not want to strain you, switch places with Kumajiro please. He will make a better first line of defense if there are multiple enemies outside the door." Plus, with Ivan on his back, it would eliminate the chances of Matthew being wounded from behind again.
Matthew shook his head. "No, if we need to run away, I won't be able to get either of us out of a bad situation. It is better if Kuma carries you." The hippogriff nodded in agreement and looked over the door as Matthew went to grab onto one of the overly big handles. Ivan didn't like that really but he knew they were right so he did not protest any further and just looked towards the door anxiously.
Taking a deep breath to brace himself for what lied ahead, Matthew gave a great heave, but the door did not even move. Confused, Matthew tried again and pulled harder, even flapping his wings to make more force, but the damned thing just wouldn't give. Matthew swallowed a heavy lump and slowly removed his hands. "I-I think it's locked..."
Ivan swore rather loudly under his breath and got down off of Kumajiro with a grunt, making his way over to the door as quickly as he could without falling on his face and trying it himself, a frustrated scowl appearing on his face when it wouldn't budge. Damn it! I'm too weak to do hardly anything right now. Now is not the time for me to be this weak!
"S-stop! You'll only hurt yourself." Matthew grabbed onto his arm and gently pulled. "This doesn't matter, we'll find another way out."
"We do not have time for this!" He snarls in a whisper, moving over and heaving himself back onto Kumajiro as quickly as he could, a scowl on his face. "If I was not so weak this damned door would not be such a problem!" He looked ready to rip his hair out in frustration, but didn't do anything of the sort. "Let us find another way as quickly as we can!"
"C-calm down, your heart may not be able to handle the stress." Matthew hurried over and placed a hand on Ivan's lap. If Ivan passed out now, it would be harder to get out.
"I will not be able to calm down until we are out!" Ivan growls softly, curling in on himself slightly and pushing Matthew's hand away. "Just start looking for a way out! I will be fine." He pants, focusing on evening his breathing and trying to relax enough to calm his rapid heartbeat.
Matthew glanced at Kuma who gave a nod before he could ask and with help of his wings, hopped up onto the hippogriff's back. He then wrapped his arms around Ivan's and pressed himself against the man's broad back.
"Easy, relax Ivan. Please... I already know how we are going to get out." He said softly as he gently rubbed circles over Ivan's heart, trying to ease the organ externally. Ivan made a little sound of surprise at Matthew's hand suddenly on his chest. He rested his head up against the hippogriff and panted softly, letting Matthew rub circles over his heart.
"Then let us get out of here already." He whispers, relaxing just a little under Matthew's touch.
"Not yet. We don't need the chance of you passing out from your heart beating so fast." His whispers, continuing to help calm the man.
Ivan grumbled softly in annoyance but didn't protest; forcing himself to relax so his heart rate would slow to a more reasonable pace. After a few minutes he uncurled a bit. "Let's get out of here. I am fine for now." He whispers.
Satisfied with the beat, Matthew got off the hippogriff and pointed to window off to the far side. It was about ten feet off the ground and just big enough for Kuma to fit through. "That's our way out."
Ivan looked up at it dubiously, but it was a better chance than the door. "Let's go then."
The small group moved closer to the window. "Stand aside. I'm going to shatter the glass." As Kuma backed up a little, Matthew stretched his wings and got ready to use his wind magic. His feathers were already beginning to glow.
When he was ready, he flapped his wings and sent a burst of wind flying around the room, blowing out torches and candles as it twisted towards the window. In a moment, the fragile object gave out from the force and was sent flying in all directions. Using his wings he, shielded himself from the sharp shards, Kuma doing the same for himself and Ivan.
"We need to hurry, that noise will probably have gained some unwanted attention."
Matthew nodded and ran over to them. "All right, you know how to ride Kuma like a horse." Kuma snorted distastefully at this. "But you need to ride him like a hippogriff now."
Ivan arched an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"The way you are sitting gets in the way of his wings; getting smacked in the face with them won't be pleasant and you two are certainly not getting through that small window like that." Matthew huffed; they really didn't have time to go over this. "Come on, hurry. Move backwards and then lay against his back. Your elbows should rest in-between his wings or right above the joints. You should also bring your feet up, the heels of you foot should sit at his hips."
This all sounded strange and was an uncomfortable position for the rider until they got used to it so Matthew helped Ivan get into position. Ivan allowed the help, doing as asked as quickly as possible.
"All right, now hang onto here." Matthew showed him where to grab. "Don't worry it won't hurt him. Now what ever you do, hang on tight with your knees and hands. And trust Kuma to lead. You ready?" Kuma scratched the stone floor with his talons to show he was ready.
Ivan nodded and held on tight where he was told to. "Yes, I am ready."
With that Kuma made a quick turn and ran down the hall they had come from. He didn't go to far before turning around. He charged down the hall even faster than before, racing all the way back. Matthew had moved out of the way as Kuma made his jump for the window, it didn't look like he was going to be able to clear the height of ten feet. But he gave a powerful thrust of his wings and climbed higher, his talons out and ready to grab the ledge if needed. Grasping on he pulled himself up, ducking out of the way of the top of the window; it was a tight squeeze as his hooves scrapped the stone ledge for leverage. One slip and he would fall with the prince on his back.
He was beginning to slip as he finally got a foot under him and pushed himself out the window. His wings were spread out fast to glide away from the stone walls. Good lord did it feel good to be outside!
But as he floated away from the walls, looking around he saw men on horseback looking up at him. Oh east winds! Kumajiro screeched in frustration. They just had to ruin his moment.
"There they are! After them!" The men began to chase him even before he could land. But the second his feet touched the ground he was galloping away. He just needed to reach the gate before the riders caught him and Alfred on the other side would be able to fight them off with ease. Ivan breathed a sigh of relief when they started riding away, but he kept attempting to glance back for Matthew, worried that they would get out but Matthew would be trapped. He did not want that at all.
As Kuma rode on, Matthew was trying to get up high enough to jump the ledge. He had already moved a barrel under the windowsill. He breathed out in frustration. This time he used his wind magic to help his wings push him higher and... success! He grabbed on and pulled himself up on the ledge. He looked out, but didn't see Ivan or Kuma waiting for him. "Where—"
Matthew let out a shriek, his wings were still on the inside of the castle and someone had just grabbed one. Before he could react fully, he was yanked brutally out of the window, expecting to fall to the ground. He was instead pulled up, the awkward angle and force broke his wing. He howled in pain.
"Hello, little guardian and just where might you be going this fine morning?" The dead king said sweetly as he pulled Matthew into a headlock to silence him. O-oh no... Matthew's eyes went wide in fear. He was dead now.
Ivan's head snapped around at the distant shriek. "Matvey!" He couldn't see Matthew, wasn't of any use to Matthew like this, but they needed to help Matthew! Kuma heard it too, but he couldn't do anything with knights chasing him. Ivan muttered a string of swear words as they continued to ride, praying that someone that could help would be waiting at the gate or at least he could work up enough energy to help.
And Ivan was right, just on the other side, the rescue squad was already waiting.
"You guys hear that? I think that was Kumajiro! Matthew must be near!" Without a second thought or moment to give the other two to respond, Alfred flew up and over the gate, quickly realizing he had a battle to fight. He began his assault as Arthur cruised and flew himself over as well, holding onto Francis as he did so, the incubus' eyes widening in worry when he could not locate Matthew.
Ivan gave a huge sigh of relief when the others appeared. Alfred and Arthur made quick work of the men. Shortly after, Arthur stormed up to Kuma, which was a bad idea and pissed off the hippogriff. Arthur backed off but still shouted. "Ivan you bastard! Where is Matthew!? What have you done to him!?"
Ivan gestured at the castle. "We escaped through the window first and I thought Matvey was right behind us! He is still back in there through that broken window!"
"No!" Alfred gathered up a great wind and took off for the window before Arthur could stop him.
"Alfred! Don't rush in blindly, you could be ambushed!"
"See if I care!" Alfred growled, though he was already too far for any to hear.
The king laughed at the look on Matthew's face. "Why am I up during the light hours you wonder? You think I would just leave candles and torches burning for no reason?" Everything then hit Matthew like a ton of bricks. It was all fire magic! It was all being controlled by the dead king!
"When you blew out my candles with your lovely wings, I knew you weren't in the tower anymore and I knew just where to find you. None of my men would ever touch my fires without reason you see."
The king then moved his gaze to the window. "And the other half arrives..."
It took only a moment for Alfred to fly in with his golden wings and find Matthew in the clutches of the vampire. Before he could even utter a single word, as his eyes locked with the dead king's; he felt his heart quicken, blood boiling, his skin on fire as it felt like his very being was seething with murderous fury and loathing. Yes, he wanted this being to pay for what he had done to his brother, but this...
This was something else. It felt as though nothing besides this man's demise mattered. Lost in the new swarm of blinding rage and his burning body, it was Matthew's voice that had brought him back through the flames.
"—fred! Alfred snap out of it!"
The older guardian just had a moment to dodge the vampire's attack, though it had been merely a sword. But had it made its mark, it would have rendered Alfred flightless for the battle which was about to unfold.
Alfred's eye shone with more hate than Matthew had ever witnessed, it frightened him down to his very soul. He did not want to be here- he did not want to be anywhere near his brother. Not like this.
"Unhand. My. Brother." Alfred growled out.
"Or what little finch? You'll drag me out into the sun?" The king cooed and nearly strangled Matthew in his grasp as the young blond wriggled and gasped for air.
"NO." Alfred then flew up and charged at the king; who fled deeper into the castle, floating through the air like smoke. "I'd prefer to tear your heart from your chest with my bare hands!"
Down the hall they sped, wind whistling, a sharp turn and they were in the grand hall. With more room to freely fly, the two shot their attacks at one another. To the king's surprise, Alfred's wings set aflame and flooded the room with greater light and heat, before blasting him with a wave of fire. The king's measly little balls of flame were nothing in comparison.
Matthew gave a shriek of pain as he was burned along with the king. W-what is going on!? This isn't like Alfred at all. But within the attack Matthew found it to be a time to break free, with a strong twist he was able to pull himself away. As he fell towards the floor, the guardian tried to slow his fall by spreading his wings. But it only brought him more pain and fed the embers to eat more of his feathers away. He landed quite roughly on the stone flooring, forcing a yelp from him.
The fight then got more savage as the two charged in for close combat. Swords clashed and fire flew around the room. Most of it was from Alfred's blazing wings, but it was making the fight more even. The vampire king had great speed and strength, even without the aid of Ivan's blood. His eyes were keen and sharp, but could not stand for more than candlelight, and the fire burned his sensitive skin. He could not even attack the winged being from behind; the front was the only spot in which he could strike. Should the flame be snuffed out, the odds would not be on such even grounds.
But Alfred was still focused enough that he knew if the fire guardian so much as missed his mark, slipped up his defense, or came too close to being grabbed, he would surely fall.
"Alfred, what are you doing!? Let's just get out of here! He can't follow us once we're in daylight!" Matthew called as he slowly stood, his body was just lightly singed so it only stung, but his wing was broken and it hurt to move it. The call for his brother fell on deaf ears as he watched them continue to fight like rabid dogs. The young blond found that he had no choice but to get out on his own; whatever it was that was going through Al's head had him set on only killing the vampire.
As his eyes moved from the fight above to the room below, it dawned on him that getting out would not be so easy. The drapes, carpets, furniture, and wooden pillars were aflame; the whole hall would be ablaze in a few more moments. Matthew could not get out on his own; he might just make it out of the room before his wings caught fire, but was it worth the risk? He looked back up at his brother one last time, knowing there would be no further help coming for him.
Quickly, as the fire spread, Matthew grasped his broken wing and held it tightly, taking the pain that came with it and ran. Ran across the hall, avoiding the flames that licked at his flesh, dodging any falling debris he could, aflame or not. The less wounds he got, the better. As it stood right now, he wouldn't be able to heal himself most of the way. His soul was small and hadn't had much rest in the past few days, a fatal wound to his chest, the wounds that both Kumajiro and Ivan had endured. He couldn't take the chance of receiving more injuries.
Before he even reached the doorway, just steps away, a loud booming chime was heard. It made him freeze; even his war-raged brother froze for a moment. It came again… and again, louder and louder.
A bell.
It was a goddamn bell! The guards locked up in the tower must have gotten out or been found!
"ALFRED! The alarm!" Matthew shouted and his eyes widening as blazing pillars came falling down near him. He ran out the doorway, almost being crushed in the process of doing so. The damn roof was on fire! Alfred's attacks were out of control; he was going to take the whole place down with him at this rate!
Outside Arthur and Kuma watched, waiting for any sign that the others were all right. They had heard Alfred's battle cry once he entered the castle, but had heard nothing since. Well, Kuma could hear some things, but he could not fully understand what it was. However once that bell started ringing Kuma tensed. Matthew's in danger! He was about to bolt when he remembered Ivan was still on his back and what Matthew had said. The hippogriff was left fidgeting as he watched the castle as smoke began to escape.
Matthew was running back down the hall towards the main gates, but he didn't make it. The guards were storming their way into hall. He had no choice but to turn down another hall, he couldn't take so many at once. His only chance was to find a window to jump out of and do his best to glide and make a run for it.
"He went that way!" The leader called out. They didn't seem to be vampires so he might be able to outrun them.
The chase had him going right and left, running in loops and up and down stairs. For a castle that had once been for humans it sure didn't have many windows! By the time he found one he could break open, he was breathing heavily. Looking around he found that there was nothing he could use to shatter the dark stained glass. He gave a heavy sigh and began to slam his fists against the glass.
But he was not fast enough, just as the glass was giving out a guard grabbed him from behind, pulling him from the window. "I got him!"
Matthew threw his weight back, making the man have to hold himself and the blond up. Thrusting his bare feet out, he shattered the window. His feet got many cuts, but it didn't matter; Matthew just needed to get out. He had to be quick if he wanted to break free before the other guards caught up. As much as he didn't want to, Matthew bit the man's exposed hand. With luck, the man let go and the guardian wasted no time jumping out the window.
Once outside he looked down. "OH GREAT SOUTH WIND!" He cried out, it was far higher than he was expecting. But it didn't take long to realize that he was quickly falling. His wings flapped violently and out of sync. Twisting around as fast as he could, he reached both his hands out to grab a hold of the wall, window, anything!
When his hand caught on an opening in the stone wall, his weight swung him in, Matthew bashing against the surface, almost knocking the wind out of him. It left him scrambling to find another slot to grasp with his other hand before he fell.
At the sound of breaking glass, Ivan's head snapped up to look towards the sound, though the sudden movement had made him sway for a moment before he steadied himself.
The trio of men left at the gate eyes widened in alarm as they recognized the figure that had jumped out the window. What was he thinking!? That was way too high a distance to jump from!
"Matvey!"
Francis breathed a sigh of relief as Matthew caught hold of something, praying the boy would be able to hold on long enough for help to get to him.
Ivan looked relieved, hardly taking his eyes off the boy. Clumsily, he climbed off of Kumajiro, startling the beast a little as he tumbled and awkwardly fell onto the ground, but Ivan paid no mind to it. "Kumajiro, I will be fine. Go help Matvey!" He gasps, winded from the fall. Kuma did not waste a second and charged off.
"Ah, he's still out here!"
Matthew looked up and saw the same man sticking his head out. Watching him pull out his sword. The guard was most likely going to try and swing at him or throw it at him. Either way he was slipping.
The sword came far too close to his wings, but another man was now in the window with a bow. Matthew was frightened, he was far off the ground, slipping, and now was about to be shot at. Correction, he was shot. Matthew gave a short cry as the arrow buried itself in his shoulder; he wasn't about to complain because it was better than being shot in the face and possibly dying from it though. But his hand reacted and released its hold on the stone, but not before another got him in the base of his one good wing.